Recommendations for honest autobiographies

[sunshinechaser]

I'm looking to get stuck into a good read over the holidays and would love a recommendation for an autobiography you loved. I haven't really read many autobiographies but I when I find an 'honest' one I really love it.
I don't really have any favourite celebs that I'd like to read as some of the ones I've enjoyed I didn't know much about them before I started.
I've read and enjoyed these so far-
Michelle Obama (though made me feel inadequate as a human 😂 )
Alan Cummings
Kevin Hart
Richard E Grant
Janette McCurdy (more of a memoir)

Any more recommendations?

@MerleandBianca I forgot I had read the Robert Webb one. Great recommendation! I loved that and recommended it to loads of friends-was so good!

That book restored my faith in men - I think I must spend too much time reading about awful misogynist ones on MN and I'd forgotten that kind, decent ones do exist 😅

Bob Mortimer
Matthew Perry
Geena Davis
Miriam Margolyes
Bill Bryson

Not a celeb but ‘A woman of no Importance is excellent. It concerns a female intelligence officer and the failings of SOE

Grace Dent's one was brief but frank.
I wasn't particularly interested in reading about her (I usually read fiction, and I vaguely recognised her from restaurant reviews) but I picked up the book at the library and was absorbed!

David Baddiel is 99p on Kindle atm

Carlos Acosta's autobiography, No Way Home;

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/no-way-home-book-carlos-acosta-9781416566298

A truly moving account of his journey from an impoverished childhood in Havanna to the top of ballet stardom. Extremely interesting, even if you're not into ballet.

Hadley Freeman's House of Glass. The story of her family. Wonderful

Sam Neill "Did I Ever Tell You This?"

Has anyone read the new Miranda one?

Johannes Radebe. Even better on Audible. About to made into a movie.

Viv Albertine's "Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys" and "To Throw Away Unopened" are fabulously raw, honest and compelling books even if you know nothing about her and the early Punk scene. Be warned, though, they're not an easy read.

Long time gone by David Crosby holds nothing back if you're interested in music at all. And Julian copes head on

My DD did and was disappointed in it.

Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance - US VP elect

Brian Blessed's autobiography is wonderful. I listened to the man himself read it on audiobook, but had to pull the car over I was laughing so loudly.

Michael Caine's autobiography is very good, so too Peter Ustinov. Robert Graves' Goodbye to All That is a masterpiece. He is simply incapable of being boring. Every paragraph contains some fascinating little anecdote or observation. Stephen Fry's Moab is my Washpot will probably be remembered as the best thing he ever did. Parts of it are superb.

Bertrand Russell's autobigraphy is great as well. Sounds a bit heavy, but it really isn't. He's such a loveable human being, and every page is so warm and witty and wise.

@Dappy777 oh god I love Brian Blessed! I think I'll do the same and get it on Audible so I can listen to that amazing voice.

I think it's probably impossible to tell, isn't it, if they are honest or not. Although maybe it doesn't necessarily matter if it is or not?

For example, at the time, a lot of people touted Andre Agassi's book as very candid at the time. I like Agassi. I enjoyed the book and found it interesting. However, I don't know, I just wasn't sure how honest it was.

I've come to the conclusion that you can read an autobiography and find it interesting to see what the author wants you to take from it. How they would like to be thought of. Reading autobiography and also biography of a person and comparing the two can be intriguing.

Even with a diary, despite being (presumably) written contemporaneously, who knows how it's been edited?

Not a celebrity, but 'War Doctor' all about the life of Dr David Nott who travels to war zones and natural disasters to help and performs the most amazing surgery in the worst conditions. It is a story of hope and a true hero. He tells a very moving story about having lunch with the Queen after returning from Syria.

@Oldowl oh I've read that and absolutely loved it! I first heard of him when he was on desert island discs. I was listening while on a dog walk and found it so moving I was crying most of my walk! So glad I didn't bump into anyone.
I've just finished the Alan Davies book. It was really not 'enjoyable' and left me uncomfortable but I guess I did ask for honest autobiographical books!

I've read quite a few recently.

Really enjoyed James blunts, listened to it on audible read by him. Very tongue in cheek but he is clearly very sharp.

Joan Collins is fascinating.

Jennifer Saunders was just nice, either way nothing awful happening. Made a refreshing change.

I hate read Matthew perrys as it was SO self absorbed and whiny. Really changed my opinion of him

@Ridingthegravytrain I read James Blunt's too and laughed the whole way through! Love him.
I've just started Jenny Eclair's and it's a nice light relief after Alan Davies'.

And forgot to say I'm listening to Brian Blessed on Audible. It's really good despite most of the people he talks about (Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn) being way before my time. Still really interesting.

Open by Andre Agassi was excellent, and I'm not really that interested in tennis. Neither, as it turns out, was Andre Agassi, which is why it was such a fascinating read.

Bob Mortimer's !
The Audio book is great as he reads it.